How they're fighting the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

[depakid]

The following is a summary of resources being deployed in the wake of the oil spill from a sunken rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Nearly 2,000 personnel are involved, with additional resources being mobilized as needed, officials said.

Stemming the flow

Four robotic underwater vehicles have been working to shut off the flow after the failure of a safety valve 1,500 metres below the surface. Three leaks have been detected, spewing an estimated 800,000 litres of oil a day.

Containing the spill

Engineers are constructing a giant dome that could be placed over leaks to trap oil, allowing it to be pumped up to container ships on the surface. Expected time: two to four weeks.

Relief well

BP and partner Transocean are seeking to drill a "relief well" to ease pressure and eventually inject material to cap the leaking well. Expected time: two to three months.

Boats

At least 75 boats - including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels - have been deployed, in operations that have collected 3.2 million litres of oily water. Crews have used 530,000 litres of chemical dispersant.

Fires

A controlled burn operation aimed at consuming some of the oil was carried out Wednesday, but stormy weather and rough seas stopped further operations.

Barriers

More than 65 kilometres of boom has been deployed to contain the spill. Additional booming is available, but is unlikely to be enough to contain the huge slick, especially in rough weather.

On land

The White House said 1,178 people have been mobilized to protect coastal areas.

In the air

The U.S. military mobilized equipment and planes armed with chemical spray gear to help disperse the slick.

More: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/they+fighting+massive+spill+Gulf+Mexico/2974273/story.html#ixzz0mfRevTJK

[Delphinus]

1. Has oil-eating bacteria

ever been found?

[WhiteTara]

2. yes. see this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8251342&mesg_id=8251342

Oil continues to ooze from a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico. President Obama has pledged to use every resource to stop the leak and clean up the mess. One of those resources could come from this area.

Bioremediation Incorporated is a local company that uses natural bacteria to clean up harmful chemicals. The company has invented a microbe that consumes crude oil...and company officials say they are eager to help out in the Gulf.

Steve Kennedy is president of Bioremediation Incorporated which helps companies eliminate toxic waste. The company holds a super-secret bacteria formula that can consume crude oil.

“Us as humans, we consume steak and pizzas. Our microbes consume hydrocarbons, and crude oil is a hydrocarbon,” Kennedy says.

The oil is highly flammable and toxic before the application. Pour on the bacteria solution...and you can see immediate results. The bacteria is breaking down the toxic substances and turning it into carbon dioxide and water. Kennedy says, their product could easily be used in the gulf to get rid of the crude oil.

“Ours would be a simple way. It would be spraying it down and letting the microbes consume it off,” he says. “That is how it works.”
http://www.thepoliticalcarnival.net/2010/04/indiana-com...